You MUST, MUST, MUST pre-order your currency, though. The exchange rate given for ‘on the spot’ purchases is SHOCKING. It is also possible that over-the-counter transactions may be processed differently by Amex.

Further information on Amex Currency Exchange, if you missed the earlier posts, can be found here and here.

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It was very competitive when I checked for my last trip. I think you won’t be able to beat this deal unless you’re ordering a significant amount of currency AND can easily get to central London for a specialist foreign exchange bureau.

Sounds like this could be very useful. I’ve been looking for ways to generate extra spend on my various Amex cards to hit the various targets (BA PP Companion, Platinum card sign up etc). Sterling T/Chq’s may be the way forward for me – cost 1.5%, but with multiple point earing opportunities and the transaction taking me towards spending targets, it seems a good deal.

When I collected my currency at LHR last week I was asked if I was collecting Avios or Worldpoints? I gave my BAEC account details for the Avios. However, checking the receipt there are no details of this showing, so I presume I can scan the receipt and send it to Worldpoints to double dip. Assuming the Avios post too of course!

Yup. Using your cashcard in an ATM abroad would (unless you have a fee-free card) lead to a 2.99% charge plus any cash advance fee on top. Amex, worryingly!, may actually be the best deal for Euros and $ as long as you pre-order.

Just to add one final point to this analysis (just one data point) I just got the plat card and burnt though the £2k spend in under a month. 26 days in fact. The bonus was paid into my MR account immediately, and I transferred it out of MR into avois and closed by amex plat account.

They refunded me the full £450 because I had the account for less than a month…

Great to know! Unfortunately I have faced a delivery issue with my card, so I’ll have had it more than a month, but by the time I’ve referred my wife and waited for that to post, it would probably be more than a month anyway. A shame, but you can be sure I’ll be burning through her account in a single day/transaction if this is confirmed to work as planned!

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